Palisades Shared Use Path Study is in Progress

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC) is consdering an expansion of a major  Rockland travel artery  aimed at making the route more accessible to cyclists and pedestrians. The council has recently launched the Palisades Shared Use Path Study in order to identify how to make the 9W corridor, which runs from the Mario M. Cuomo (or Tappan Zee for traditionalists) Bridge to the George Washington Bridge a safer and more reliable option for commuters choosing not to use a car. Currently the study is in the data collection phase and the NYMTC is encouraging members of the community to send in direct feedback. 

A shared use path is a separate path from the road which is to be used only for walking, running, biking or rolling. When asked about the origin of this particular Shared Use Path Study, Sam Frommer, the Project Manager, stated that it was spurred on after renovations added shared use paths on both the Cuomo Bridge and the George Washington Bridge. This path has so far seemingly made it easier and safer for the preponderance of people who utilize these bridges. 

While Frommer spoke, dozens of bicycles, motorcycles and cars whizzed past on the 9W. Pedestrians also walked by as they attempted to safely access the hiking trail down the road as well as the marketplace behind him. This called attention to the urgency of both acquiring and implementing feedback from community members to make this a safer route for all involved. 

According to Frommer, the feedback so far from the community regarding the feasibility of the shared path was trending towards “…improving existing routes and making them safer, rather than creating a shared use path at this time”. However, this is a feasibility study which means that at this time no concrete decisions have been settled on. As far as contributing to feedback, community members can either email palisadespathstudy@gmail.com or go onto www.palisadespathstudy.com. This online feedback looks like dropping pins onto an interactive map of the area and identifying locations where a variety of different amenities might improve the route. Some of these amenities include water fountains, shelters, lighting, restrooms, and even an option to add your own ideas.

Next steps for the study includes drafting recommendations on proposed ideas. These drafts will be available in the early fall, at which point community members can make further comments and suggestions. Additional workshops will also be held, with a projected final study report in the winter of 2025.